Tub box structure

ABSTRACT

A tub box structure is disclosed for use in enclosing a drain trap and a connected part of a sewerline in a concrete slab floor. In use container and closure portions of this box structure are assembled so as to enclose such a line and trap, and then the concrete to form such a slab floor is cast around the structure so that the upper part of the structure is exposed above the concrete. After the concrete has set the portion of the structure exposed above the concrete is severed and connection is made to the drain trap.

United States Patent 3.276.176 l0/l9o6 Jonssonetal.

| lmentm Duane D. Logsdon HI) (anyon Road. Fullerton. Calif. 92631 groupJuly 23, l965,

Primary Examiner-Henry K. Artis Attorney-Edward D. O'Brian m UF .m UW mD S 3 Ms Bm M UC T2 521 4/1 [5]] ...A47kl7/00 ABSTRACT: A tub boxstructure is disclosed for use in enpart of a sewerline in a Field ofSearch closing a drain trap and a connected concrete slab floor. In usecontainer and closure portions of [56] References C'ted this boxstructure are assembled so as to enclose such a line UNITED STATESPATENTS 5/1940 Gerriets.

slab floor is pper part of the strucand trap, and then the concrete toform such a cast around the structure so that the u fter the concretehas set portion of the structure exposed above the concrete is ture isexposed above the concrete. A the it" s 2,270.286 l/l942 Gerriets.

5/l957 Cauffiel 9/1965 Wagner...

52/577 vered and connection is made to the drain trap.

'TUB BOX STRUCTURE BACKGROUND or THE INVENTION This invention pertainsto an enclosure termed a tub box structure" which is utilized with adrain trap and a connected portion of the sewerline beneath a concreteslab floor. At the present time many different buildings are constructedutilizing such floors. One of the problems with this type ofconstruction concerns how to locate drain fittings beneath the surfaceof such a slab floor in a satisfactory manner so that appropriateplumbing connections may be made to such fittings. This problem isconsidered to be particularly pronounced where it is necessary to locatea drain trap below floor level so that upon installation of the floor abathtub or similar fixture may be connected to the trap.

In the past various different procedures have been followed inattempting to solve this problem. Probably the most conventionalprocedure followed involves the assembly of a so called-tree of drain orsewerlines and appropriate traps in trenches on the surface where aconcrete slab is to be located. After such assembly, frequently a wood,bottomless box is located around the trap and a connected portion of asewerline and filled with sand or similar material. Then the concreteslab is cast in place. After such a slab has hardened the sand or otherfill material used in this procedure is dug out from around the trap andthe wood box is disassembled and pulled from its location. Followingthis. in order to comply with appropriate plumbing codes, the resultantcavity is lined with plaster or similar material so=as to make it immuneto rats and similar vermin.

It will be realized that the type of procedure outlined in the precedingis highly disadvantageous and expensive. It involves a great deal ofmanual labor. Normally plumbers are relatively highly paid because oftheir unique skills and abilities. From an economic standpoint it isundesirable to require them to perform the various manual operationsnecessary with the procedure outlined.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF TI-IE-INVENTION An object of the present inventionis to provide new and improved tub box structures which can. be utilizedso as to eliminate prior related procedures suchas the procedureoutlined in the preceding. A related objective of this invention is toprovide a tub box structure which is relatively inexpensive, which isrelatively simple to use and which when used results in significantlabor savings.

These and various other objectives of this invention are achieved byproviding a tub box structure for the purpose indicated which includes:a container having a bottom, continuous sidewall means, an open top anda sewerline openingin the sidewall means, and a closure for thecontainer. Preferably the structure includes means for attaching theclosure to the container and means for supporting the container in avertical position. Preferably the structure is made out of acomparatively light weight thermoplastic material of such a characterthat it can be buried in the ground to serve as a permanentinstallationand which is of such a character that it is effectively immune to verminsuch as rats.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING The actual nature of this invention isbest explained by referring to the accompanying drawing in which:

FIG. I is a cross-sectional view ofa presently preferred embodiment orform of a tub box structure of this invention in use;

FIG. 2 is an isometric view of a container part of' this tub boxstructure; and

FIG. 3 is an inverted isometric view of a closure part of thisstructure.

The accompanying drawing is primarily intended to clearly illustrate forexplanatory purposes a presently preferred embodiment or form of a tubhox structure of this invention. It will be realized that otherdifferently appearing tub box structures may be satisfactorily utilizedin place of the precise structure illustrated. Such other structures maybe easily designed through the use or exercise of routine engineeringskill on the basis of the disclosure embodied herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT In the drawing there isshown a tub box structure 10 of this invention which includes acontainer 12 and a closure 14. Both of these parts are preferablymanufactured out of a nonporous material such as ABS plastic orhigh-impact styrene acceptable for use for various purposes in theplumbing and/or construction industries.

The container 12 includes a bottom 16 carrying continuous sidewall 18appearing much like the sidewall of a common tub. In effect the bottom16 and the wall 18 form a type of nonporous tub. This container I2 hasan open top 20 which is surrounded by an attaching flange 22. Thisflange is preferably provided with four extensions or cars 24, each ofwhich is intersected by a hole 26. The closure 14 has a top 28 carryinga continuous sidewall 30 which terminates in an open bottom 32. Thisalso constitutes a nonporous structure. This bottom 32 is surrounded byan attaching flange 34 of the same dimensions as the flange 22previously described. This flange 34 is carried by the wall 30.

The use of the tub structure 10 is essentially relatively simple. In usea so-called tree" of sewerlines (notshown) including a particularsewerline 40 is assembled in a ditch (not shown) underneath the surface42 upon which a concrete slab 44 is to be located; Then the container 12is located on the sewerline 40 so that a hole 46 is the sidewall 18 istraversed by this sewerline 40. Preferably the hole 46 is dimensioned sothat the sewerline 40 fits very closely within it'in order to provide aslittle space as possible through which vermin or the like might pass. Ifdesired a conventional sealant may be applied between-the line 40 andthe wall 18.

Then a conventional trap 48 is assembled upon the sewerline 40 in aconventional manner. At this time, support and reinforcing rod 50 may bedriven through the'holes 26 in extensions 24 so as to tend to supportthe container 12 in a vertical position. Next the closure 14 is locatedon top of the container 12. Before, or as this is done, an appropriateconventional adhesive is applied to one or both'of the flanges 22 and 24sothat after flanges are brought together upon hardening of the adhesive50 the container I2 and the closure 14 will form the tub structure 10.When formed this structure I0 is completely enclosed. This combinedstructure 10 is then preferably secured in place to the rods 50 by usingwires 54 to attach these rods to the extensions 24. Then the area aroundthe line 40 and the structure 10 is filled in up to the level of thesurface 42. At this point, the concrete slab 44 may be cast upon thesurface 42 in accordance with conventional practice. It will be notedthat this slab 44 should not extend to the top 28 of the closure I4 andthat it terminates along the sidewall 30. The slab 44 as cast comes intodirect intimate contact with the exterior of the tub structure 10 so asto form ajoint with it which is relatively immune to vermin such asrats. During the casting of the slab 42 the interior of the structure I0is protected against contamination.

After the slab 44 has been formed, the projecting portion of the closureI4 above it as indicated by phantom lines in FIG. I may be severedthrough the use of an appropriate cutting tool. This will expose thetrap 48 so that further plumbing connection may be easily made to it.When such connection is made, there is no necessity for digging out thetrap, and/or lining the cavity containing it, since the portion of thetub structure I0 remaining in the slab 44 provides an effectivepermanent enclosure against rats and the like.

Iclaim:

portion of a sewerline connected to it which comprises:

a nonporous plastic container having a bottom and a continuous, upwardlyextending attached sidewall connected to said bottom, said sidewallhaving a sewerline opening in said sidewall means, said sewerlineopening being capable of fitting closely around the outside of thesewerline said container having an open top:

a nonporous, plastic closure for said container having a top and acontinuous attached downwardly directed sidewall, said closurchaving anopen bottom capable of fitting over and enclosing the top ofsaidcontainer;

attaching flanges formed on the end of said sidewall of said containerand on the end of the sidewall of said closure for attaching saidclosure to said container so that said closure flts over and enclosesthe top of said container said attaching flanges on said container andsaid closure extending from said container and said closure and fittingagainst one another;

said container being capable of being located with a sewerline extendingthrough said opening and a trap attached to an end oi'said line in saidcontainer;

said tub box structure serving to protect said trap from theaccumulation of material during the formation of a concrete slab aroundand in contact with the exterior of said container and the sidewall ofsaid closure;

said tub box structure being capable of being severed along saidsidewall of said closure at the top of such a slab in order to provideaccess to said trap and to provide a permanent enclosure around saidtrap.

2. A tub box structure as claimed in claim I including:

means for supporting said container in a vertical position;

said means for supporting being extensions on said attaching flanges,said extensions having holes formed therein which are dimensioned so asto receive support rods.

1. A tub box structure for use in enclosing a drain trap and a portionof a sewerline connected to it which comprises: a nonporous plasticcontainer having a bottom and a continuous, upwardly extending attachedsidewall connected to said bottom, said sidewall having a sewerlineopening in said sidewall means, said sewerline opening being capable offitting closely around the outside of the sewerline said containerhaving an open top: a nonporous, plastic closure for said containerhaving a top and a continuous, attached downwardly directed sidewall,said closure having an open bottom capable of fitting over and enclosingthe top of said container; attaching flanges formed on the end of saidsidewall of said container and on the end of the sidewall of saidclosure for attaching said closure to said container so that saidclosure fits over and encloses the top of said container said attachingflanges on said container and said closure extending from said containerand said closure and fitting against one another; said container beingcapable of being located with a sewerline extending through said openingand a trap attached to an end of said line in said container; said tubbox structure serving to protect said trap from the accumulation ofmaterial during the formation of a concrete slab around and in contactwith the exterior of said container and the sidewall of said closure;said tub box structure being capable of being severed along saidsidewall of said closure at the top of such a slab in order to provideaccess to said trap and to provide a permanent enclosure around saidtrap.
 2. A tub box structure as claimed in claim 1 including: means forsupporting said container in a vertical position; said means forsupporting being extensions on said attaching flanges, said extensionshaving holes formed therein which are dimensioned so as to receivesupport rods.